Castles, Rivers & Woodbridge
If you like rivers and boats with a great helping of history and local flavour then this is the Suffolk escape route for you. Enjoy castles and culture washed down with a glass of crisp local wine or refreshing real ale, then snake down from reedy creeks to the coast perhaps as you head to listen to tinkling masts on the Deben at Woodbridge or muse over the mysterious ship burial site at Sutton Hoo. Read More
England
Any Day
Bed & Breakfast
£443.00
4 Days, 3 Nights
Feb - Nov
Grade 2 (Easy)
Overview
The towering 12th century fortresses at Framlingham and Orford dominate this tour which visits the tranquil rivers Alde, Ore and Deben.
Itinerary
Day 1 Arrive & explore
Arrive at Needham Market, explore the area and spend your first night in or near this small market town.
Day 2 Winding Lanes & Windmills
Head through the lanes to Debenham, a pretty village with its over-hanging houses and antique shops, then on to Saxtead Green. Here you can visit the beautifully restored 18c post mill and, perhaps, take refreshment at the inn nearby. A detour to one of the vineyards in the area is well worth the visit.
You spend the night in the quiet market town of Framlingham where the 12th century castle, the one-time home of Mary Tudor, and church are both superb.
Mileage: Rec 22 Min 21 Max 38
Day 3 Landscapes, Seascapes & Riverscapes
Cycle to Snape Maltings where the Aldeburgh Festival concert hall sits among the little arts community on the banks of the river Alde. Those with plenty of energy left can continue on the recommended route to both Orford, with its impressive castle keep, quaint quayside and boat trips, and Shingle Street, a quiet spot where the River Ore meets the sea. Mere mortals can amend their route to exclude one or other, bringing the mileages down to 28 and 30 miles respectively.
Just outside the lovely maritime town of Woodbridge where you stop for the night, you can visit the site of the rich Anglo-Saxon ship burial at Sutton Hoo.
Mileage: Rec 39 Min 13 Max 42
Day 4 Rural return
An opportunity to explore the quay and Tide Mill at Woodbridge before cycling through rural Suffolk to return to Needham Market, possibly stopping for a cream tea at the beautiful Helmingham Hall Gardens on the way.
Mileage: Rec 17 Min 16 Max 28
Gallery
Dates & Prices
Download PricesFor tour start days/dates, seasons and all prices, please click on the PRICES button Above
PRICE INCLUDES
Ensuite accommodation as described with full English breakfast (prices based on two adults sharing)
Hire of hybrid bicycle and ancillary equipment (single pannier and handlebar bag or map holder, pump, basic tools, spare inner tube & puncture repair equipment, helmet if required)
Luggage transfer between hotels
Local assistance on call (we will attend for puncture repair in Suffolk)
Detailed itinerary with meticulously planned and researched routes following quiet country lanes with a choice of routes available each day (usually recommended, long and short)
Route notes, descriptions and use of good OS mapping (maps available on arrival). We pride ourselves on our detailed level of documentation which includes plenty of top tips for places to visit or for relaxing and sampling the local fare along the way. We send electronic versions of these documents by email approximately two weeks before your stay so you can plan ahead and look forward to your gentle cycling adventure
We have now switched the default navigation system to GPS – in our opinion this is now the most convenient method as it eliminates the need for frequent stops to check the map
- We provide you with access to a premium GPS smartphone navigation app (IOS or Android) and send you links so that you can download all of the route options before you leave home. We will provide a handlebar bracket for your phone if required; it is also recommended that you bring a spare battery/powerbank to make sure that your phone lasts the day
- We can also provide GPS tracks in whatever format if you prefer to load them into your own GPS Unit
- Finally, we can provide a limited number of GPS units with the routes preloaded – this is on a first come first served basis – please let us know as soon as you can if you would like to use one
- We will also provide OS 1:50,000 mapping on arrival as additional support to allow for any impromptu route changes
- Traditional map-based navigation (using marked OS maps) is still available as an alternative at extra cost upon request (at least two weeks in advance)
Please note that the price EXCLUDES
Costs of getting to and from the start point
Accommodation Options
Selected accommodation in a 4 star historic inn in Rickinghall, 3 star hotels in Framlingham and central Woodbridge.
Weekend supplements are payable for overnights stays in both Woodbridge and Framlingham for Friday and Saturday nights.
We are pleased to discuss details on request.
Request Booking
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